Father Christmas had not played along for many years. Neither had the birthday fairy.

Shortly before his 12th birthday, his fortunes changed. His mother walked to the second hand store. She negotiated a great deal. She paid her first instalment. She had 5 more to go.

She planned to wrap a big blue ribbon around it. The look on her son’s face would surely be imprinted in her heart forever.

It’s all she talked about for the next month or two. She was so proud.

The boy told old his estranged dad that he knew the secret that his mom was hiding from him. He was happy to play along. The anticipation was intoxicating.

One evening, his mom was walking home from the bus stop and in the distance she saw the boy. He was riding a bicycle. Either her mind was playing tricks on her or he was riding someone else’s bicycle. Surely those were the only two options.

She quickened her steps.

“Look mom!” he said “Dad got me a bike!”

Her heart broke.

The look on her son’s face was forever imprinted in her heart.

The boy had many happy days riding his bike.

On his birthday, his mother said “My son, I pray that God still has plans for me to melt your heart”.